Rep. Sally Kerans

Maddy summaryHD 2651 modifies Massachusetts abortion law by removing specific medical justification requirements. It replaces the previous list of permitted circumstances (e.g., preserving life, health, or fetal anomalies) with a standard allowing abortions "based upon the professional judgment of the physician." The bill also eliminates a requirement for physicians to independently review cases involving pregnancies over 24 weeks and deletes language about "determinations" related to those cases. This change directly affects patients seeking abortions and physicians performing them by broadening the legal basis for the procedure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for registered voters in Danvers to recall town-wide elected officials who have more than six months left in their term. The procedure begins with an initial affidavit signed by at least 350 voters, which must be followed by a petition gathering signatures from 20% of all registered voters to trigger an election. The law explicitly excludes an official's voting record from being grounds for recall unless it involves a conflict of interest, and it prohibits filing petitions against new officials within their first six months or against those who survived a previous recall attempt. If the recall petition is certified, a vote is held where residents choose to keep or remove the official, with the incumbent continuing to work until the election concludes.

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5462) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., Sally P. Kerans and Bruce E. Tarr (by vote of the town) relative to recall petitions in the charter of the town of Middleton. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new wage standards for direct care workers in Massachusetts human services programs. It requires that direct care staff wages meet or exceed the 75th percentile of similar jobs in the state (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data), with salary increases for these roles tied to this benchmark. The law specifically excludes top executives (like CEOs and CFOs) from these wage requirements. It also mandates transparent calculation of fringe benefits and payroll costs for providers, and ensures compliance won't reduce funding for existing social service programs. The changes take effect 180 days after enactment, with a planning process starting July 1, 2025.

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1244) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Sally P. Kerans, Manny Cruz, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to enhance access to abortion care. The Judiciary.

Senate, July 24, 2025 -- Text of the Senate Bill facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder (Senate, No. 2565) (being the text of Senate No. 2558, printed as amended)

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 5609) modifies how the City of Peabody handles missing pre-employment physical exam records for public safety personnel (like police and firefighters) applying for accidental disability retirement. It requires the Peabody Retirement Board to use specific legal presumptions when records are unavailable. The key provision allows an affidavit from the member or employer to prove a physical exam was completed, stating it didn't reveal the disabling condition sought in the retirement claim. This affidavit would then be accepted as valid evidence of the required exam, streamlining the retirement process when records are lost or incomplete.

Maddy summaryHD 2540 creates a legal process for terminally ill Massachusetts residents to request medication for a peaceful death. It requires patients to be mentally capable adults with a terminal diagnosis (expected death within 6 months), prove Massachusetts residency, and complete a 15-day waiting period after an initial oral request. The process involves two physicians confirming the diagnosis and mental capacity, plus two non-family witnesses verifying the patient’s voluntary participation. Patients with legal guardians are excluded, and the bill explicitly does not affect existing hospice or palliative care options.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows court-appointed guardians to be paid directly for arranging medical care for incapacitated people (those unable to make their own health decisions). It creates specific rules for guardians to qualify as "providers," requiring proof of court appointment, a sworn statement of service dates, and confirmation they are not immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, or sibling). Guardians must submit claims with court documents, and payments cannot duplicate existing insurance coverage. The law also sets new payment rates for guardians based on regional costs, inflation, and geographic wage differences.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination against entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It requires insurers and drug distributors to pay 340B-covered entities (like community health centers and safety-net hospitals) and their contract pharmacies the same rate as non-340B providers for covered drugs, without imposing special requirements or modifiers for 340B drugs. The law also protects patients' choice to receive 340B drugs from participating providers without interference. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Massachusetts law, enforced by the Attorney General and pharmacy board. The bill directly affects 340B program participants, their pharmacy partners, insurers, and drug manufacturers/distributors operating in Massachusetts.